Pin-coupled members of dredging, elevating, conveying, and like apparatus



Feb. 16, 1937. J. s. WHITTAKER 2,070,765

PIN COUPLED MEMBERS OF DREDGING, ELEVATING,

CONVEYING, AND LIKE APPARATUS Filed July 18, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 16, 1937. J. 5. HlTTAKER 2,070,765

' PIN COUPLED MEMB OF DREDGING VATING CONVEYING N L APPARAT Filed 1y 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f/a. 0. v //6. 3. fm. /fi.

Patented Feb. 16, 1937 RATUS John Sydney Whittaker, Puchong, Selangor,

Federated Malay States 1 Application July 18, 1936, Serial No. 91,320 in Great Britain November 2, 1935 15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the pin-coupled members of dredging, elevating, conveying and like apparatus of endless type. The invention will, for convenience, hereinafter be described with reference to pin-coupled dredger buckets from which its application to the pin-coupled buckets or equivalent pincoupled members of elevators, conveyors and like apparatus of endless type will readily be understood.

The invention relates particularly to that kind of dredger buckets and coupling pins in which one side, or each side, of the front end or eye portion of a dredger bucket is provided with a number of lateral recesses, radial to the coaxial pin holes in the pair of front eyes of the bucket between which the rear eye of a preceding bucket extends, and the coupling pin is. provided at one end with a corresponding number of radial projections adapted to enter the said recesses, the arrangement being such that after the pin has been passed through the said front eyes of the bucket and the rear eye of the preceding bucket and its radial projections have been inserted in the respective recesses and has been worn to a sufiicient extent over a segmental area along the length of the pin, the pin can be partly Withdrawn endways to disengage its radial projections from the recesses, then partly rotated about its axis to bring another segmental area of the length of the pin into another wearing position and then moved inward to cause its radial projections to enter the corresponding recesses opposite which they have been brought. The object of such a construction of dredger bucket and coupling pin is to avoid the wear on the pin, caused by the rear eye of the preceding bucket, being concentrated solely along a single segmental area of the length of the pin against which the said rear eyeof a preceding bucket bears, which obtains when the bucket is provided with a single radial recess and the coupling pin is provided with a single radial projection and is therefore not capable of being partly rotated about its axis to enable another segmental portion of its length to be brought into and held in position for use. Such concentrated wear gradually becomes so great, before the pin needs to be replaced by a new one, as to necessitate the top tumbler around which a chain of such pin-coupled dredger buckets travels, being provided from time to time with a packing plate, or the provision of thicker and expensive wearing plates, to prevent, as far as possible, the pitch of the coupling pins and the length of the chain of buckets, gradually becoming too great to enable the dredger chain to work efiiciently.

Heretofore in the kind of combined dredger bucket and coupling pin to which the present invention relates, each radial projection of a coupling pin has been made initially with parallel side surfaces and has been forced laterally into a recess of corresponding shape. Owing, however, to the turning force exerted on the coupling,

pin each time the bucket is passing over the upper tumbler, the radial projections become slack in the recesses and permit slight rotary movement of the pin in the front eyes of the bucket. This movement, though small at first, increases rapidly and causes considerable wear of the front eyes of the bucket and of the pin and this in turn, causes the chain of buckets to run out of true.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved construction of dredger buckets and coupling pins of the kind referred to, namely in which each bucket is provided With a number of radial recesses and the coupling pin is provided with a corresponding number of radial projections, so as to admit of the pin being partly rotated from time to time for the purpose hereinbefore mentioned, whereby rotation of the coupling pin in the eyes of coupled buckets is prevented and the disadvantage referred to, thereby avoided.

For this purpose, according to the said invention, each radial projection is made of wedge or taper shape as seen in side view, with the narrower end of the taper next to the pin, and one of the recesses into which each radial projection is to be brought in turn extends rearwardly and is made of such special shape and dimensions that when each radial projection in turn is inserted therein and one of its sides or edges is caused to bear against one side or edge of the said recess, there will be formed between the opposite side or edge of the projection and the adjacent side of the recess, a longitudinal gap in which a correspondingly shaped holding block is inserted so as to hold the radial projection firmly against the first mentioned side or edge of the recess. The holding action of such a block will also be assisted by the pull of the adjacent preceding bucket on the pin, which is free to move initially to a small extent in a direction parallel to itself in the aligned holes in the front eyes of the bucket and cause the radial projection to move longitudinally to a small extent in relation to the holding block which is held stationary. The other recess or recesses is or are or may be made with ample clearance for the radial projection or projections to be housed therein.

Each radial projection may have each of its sides tapered symmetrically with reference to its longitudinal centre line, or one side may be tapered with reference to the said centre line .and its opposite side be parallel to such. line, the special recess being shaped to suit.

.The said forward eye end of the bucket may be provided at each side thereof, with recesses of the kind described, so that the coupling pin described can be inserted in place from either side of the bucket at will.

In the accompanying illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 shows in side elevation, part of a dredger bucket and coupling pin with holding block according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 1III of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a part end elevation of the bucket and pin shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 4, 5, 6 and '7 are similar views to Fig. 1, showing modified constructions. Figs. 8, 9, l0, ll, 12 and 13 are views similar to Fig. 2 showing modified constructions.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings,

I is a portion of a dredger bucket the front end or eye portion2 of which is provided at one side, or it may be at each side, with two lateral radial re cesses 3 and 4, and the coupling pin 5 is provided with two radial wedge shaped'projections S and l, the recesses 3, 4 and also the projections 5 and I, being arranged in line with each other, and the coaxial centre lines of theprojections extending in the direction of the pull on the bucket, when the bucket is in use, and at an angular distance apart of 180. The recess 3 extending rearward of the pin holes in the front end eye portion 2 of the bucket, is made of such shape and dimensions, as shown, that when the radial projection 6 is inserted therein and its upper side is caused to bear against the upper side of the said recess 3, there is formed between the lower side of the said projection and the lower side of the recess, a longitudinal taper or wedge shaped gap 3 in which a correspondingly tapered or wedge shaped holding block 8 is inserted and moved endways so as to force the radial projection 6 firmly against the upper side of the recess 3. When the bucket is in use, the pull on the coupling pin 5, caused by preceding buckets in the chain of buckets, will initially, cause or tend to cause, the projection 6 to move longitudinally to a slight extent relatively to the holding block 8 so that the said radial projection B will, at all times be held rigidly against the top side of the recess 3 and therefore cannot become loose in the recess .as the result of working of the bucket. When the coupling pin has been worn along a longitudinal segmental area thereof to any predetermined desired extent, the holding block 8 is moved forward to release the radial projection B, the coupling pin is then withdrawn endways to a sufiicient extent to enable the projections 6 and I to be withdrawn from the recesses 3 and d, the

coupling pin rotated through 180 and the radial projections I and 6 inserted in the radial recesses 3 and 4 respectively, after which the holding block 8 is moved backward to force the projection I rigidly against the upper side of the recess 3. The radial recess 4 may be made of such size .as to afford ample clearance, as shown, for the radial projection located therein.

The dredger bucket and coupling pin may be provided respectively with radial recesses and radial projections arranged at angular distances apart less than 180.

Fig. 4 shows part of a dredger bucket provided with three angularly arranged wedge shaped recesses 3, 4 and 9, and a coupling pin 5 provided with three radial wedge shaped projections 6, I and ID, the centre lines of the projections being arranged apart. In this case also the rearwardly extending recess 3 is made of such shape and dimension as to receive a holding block 8 adapted to hold the projection that is located within the said recess 3, rigidly against the upper side of the recess, as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.

Means of various kinds, may, if desired, be provided for forcing the holding block endways into its operative position for the purpose hereinbefore mentioned. For this purpose the block 8 may, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, be provided at its rear end with a screw-threaded shank 8 that is passed through a lug I I integral with the bucket I, the projecting end of the shank being fitted with a nut'I2 to draw the block 8 rearward. The lug II is slotted at the top at H (Fig. 2) to facilitate the placing of the block 8 in the recess 3 before one of the radial projections 6 or I is placed in the said recess. Or the said shank 8 of the holding block 8 (Figs. 1 and 4), may, as shown in Fig. 5, be replaced by a set screw I3 that extends through the lug II and is screwed into the block 8. Or, as shown in Fig. 6, a screw-threaded bolt I4 may be passed through the lug II and the block 8, the head I 4 of the bolt bearing against the front end of the block and the shank of the bolt be provided with a tightening-up nut I2 bearing against the rear side of the lug II. Or, as shown in Fig. '7, the block 8 may be forced rearward into its operative position, by a wedge shaped key I5 inserted through the transverse gap 3 between the front end of the block 8 and a seat I formed on the bucket I. The key I5 may be held endways in its operative position by any suitable means, as for example by a set screw I5 The tapered sides of each radial projection and the side of the holding block 8 designed to bear against one of the tapered sides of each projection in turn, may be flat as in the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Or, the said side of the block and the side of each radial projection with which it is to co-act, may be so shaped in cross section as to fit one into the other to prevent any lateral movement between the projection and block. For this purpose, one of the ooacting sides of the block and of each radial projection, may, as shown in Fig. 8, be of concave shape and the other of corresponding convex shape, in cross section. Or, as shown in Fig. 9, each of the coacting sides of the radial projection 6 and block 8 may be formed with a longitudinal groove I8 and a rib I9 adapted to fit together. Or, as shown in Fig. 10, the said coacting sides of the projection 6 and block 8 may be formed the one with a central longitudinal groove I8 and the other with a corresponding longitudinal rib I9 to fit the groove.

Also, the dredger bucket, holding block and each of the radial projections inturn, may be adapted to become interlocked with each other when they are in position for use, so as to prevent outward lateral movement of the block and of the radial projections and coupling pin. Thus, as shown in Fig. 11, the adjacent lower sides of the block 8 and recess 3 may be formed with corresponding longitudinal ribs 20 and grooves 21 arranged to become engaged with each other when the block is inserted in position for use, the rib 20 on the bucket being outside that on the block. Also, the upper side of the block 8 and the lower side of the radial projection 6 are formed with coacting corresponding ribs 22 and grooves 23, the rib 22 on the block being outside that on the radial projection. Or, the opposite sides of each radial projection may, as shown in Fig. 12 with reference to the radial projection 6, be provided with longitudinal centrally-arranged ribs 24 and 25 adapted to fit corresponding longitudinal grooves 26 and '21 respectively in the adjacent upper side of the recess '-3 in the bucket i and the upper side of the holding block 8. Or, as shown in Fig. 13, the block 8 and the adjacent lower side of the recess 3 in the bucket I, may be formed the one with a longitudinal groove 28 and the other with a longitudinal rib 29 to hold the block 8 in the lateral direction, the opposite or upper side of the radial projection 6 and the adjacent side of the recess 3 in the bucket being provided with an interengaging rib 30 and groove 3| to hold the radial projection 6 and coupling pin in a lateral direction.

The details of construction of dredger buckets, coupling pins and holding blocks according to the invention can be variously modified to suit varying requirements.

In the appended claims, the term dredger bucket is used generically and is intended also to include pin coupled members of elevating, conveying and like apparatus of endless type.

What I claim is:-

1. A dredger bucket the front end eye portion of which is provided at one of its outer sides with a number of radial recesses extending from the pin hole in said eye portion of the bucket, a rotary coupling pin extending through said front end eye portion of said bucket and provided with a number of taper shaped radial projections housed in said recesses and having their narrower ends adjacent to the pin, one of said recesses extending rearwardly and made of taper shape and of such transverse dimensions that when the radial projection within said recess is bearing against one side of the recess, a longitudinal gap is formed between the opposite side of said projection and the adjacent side of said recess, and a holding block fitting said gap and adapted to hold said radial projection firmly against the first mentioned side of the recess.

2. A dredger bucket the front end eye portion of which is provided at one of its outer sides with a number of radial recesses extending from the pin hole in said eye portion of the bucket, a rotary coupling pin extending through said front end eye portion of said bucket and provided with a number of tap-er shaped radial projections housed in said recesses and having their narrower ends adjacent to the pin, one of said recesses extending rearwardly and made of taper shape and of such transverse dimensions that when the radial projection within said recess is bearing against one side of the recess, a longitudinal gap is formed between the opposite side of said projection and the adjacent side of said recess, a holding block fitting said gap, and means for holding said block endways in its operative position.

3. A dredger bucket the front end eye portion of which is provided at one of its outer sides with a number of radial recesses extending from the pin hole in said eye portion of the bucket, a rotary coupling pin extending through said front end eye portion of said bucket and provided with a number of taper shaped radial projections housed in said recesses and having their narrower ends adjacent to the pin, one of said recesses extending rearwardly and made of taper shape and of such transverse dimensions that when the radial projection within said recess is bearing against one side of the recess, a longitudinal gap is formed between the opposite side of said projection and the adjacent side of said recess, a holding block within said gap and means adapted to move said block rearward into its operative position in said gap and to hold it in that position.

4. A dredger bucket and coupling pin according to claim 1, wherein each of the radial projections of the coupling pin has each of its opposite sides tapered symmetrically with reference to the longitudinal centre line of the pin.

5. A dredger bucket and coupling pin according to claim 1, wherein each of the radial projections of the coupling pin has one side tapered with reference to the longitudinal centre line of the projection and its opposite side parallel to said centre line.

6. A dredger bucket and coupling pin according to claim 1, wherein the bucket is provided with two diametrically arranged radial recesses and the coupling pin is provided with two radial projections housed in said recesses.

'7. A dredger bucket and coupling pin according to claim 1, wherein the coupling pin is provided with three radial projections arranged 120 apart and said bucket is provided with three angularly arranged radial recesses to accommodate said radial projections.

8. A dredger bucket and coupling pin according to claim 3, wherein the means for moving said holding block rearwardly and holding it in its operative position comprises a screw-threaded shank on said block, a lug fixed to said bucket and through which said shank passesand a nut on the projecting end of said shank and hearing against the rear side of said lug.

9. A dredger bucket and coupling pin according to claim 3, wherein the means for moving said holding block rearwards and holding it in its operative position, comprises a lug on said bucket and a set-screw extending through said lug and screwed into the rear end of said block.

10. A dredger bucket and coupling according to claim 3, wherein the means for moving said holding block rearwards and holding it in its operative position, comprises a lug on said bucket, a screw threaded bolt extending through said lug and through said block and having its head bearing against the front end of said block, and a. nut on the shank of said bolt bearing against the rear side of said lug.

11. A dredger bucket and coupling pin according to claim 1, wherein the adjacent sides of the holding block and radial projection .are shaped in cross section to fit one into the other and prevent lateral outward movement between them.

12. A dredger bucket and coupling pin according to claim 1, wherein the adjacent sides of the holding block and radial projection are shaped in cross section to fit one into the other and prevent lateral outward movement between them and one of such parts and the adjacent side of the rearward recess in which they are located are shaped in cross section to fit one into the other to prevent lateral outward movement of the combined block and projection and pin relatively to the bucket.

13. A dredger bucket and coupling pin according to claim 1, wherein one side of each radial projection is adapted to become interlocked with the holding block when brought into coacting contact therewith and prevent relatively lateral outward movement of said block and projection and the opposite side of each radial projection in turn, is adapted to become interlocked with the side of the rearward recess opposite to that with which said holding block coacts, and prevent outward lateral movement of the combined holding block and radial projection and coupling pin relatively to the bucket.

14. A dredger bucket, coupling pin and holding means according to claim 1, wherein each of the outer sides of the front end eye portions of the bucket is provided with a number of radial recesses, those at one side corresponding in position with those at the opposite side, the two rearwardly extending recesses being of the same transverse dimensions.

15. A dredger bucket the front end eye portion of which is provided at each of its outer sides with a number of recesses extending radially from the pin hole in the said eye end portion of the bucket, those at one side corresponding in position with those at the opposite side, one of the recesses at each side extending rearWardly-of the pin hole and of taper shape in the longitudinal direction, and both of such rearwardly extending recesses being of the same transverse dimensions and of greater transverse dimensions than those of the remaining recesses, for the purpose set forth.

JOHN SYDNEY WHI'I'IAKER'. 

